Dec 15, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved a project to reconstruct 136 bridges and 5 flyovers in the country with the financial assistance of 7.9 billion rupees (GPB 45 million) from the United kingdom.

Under the proposal submitted to the cabinet by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Minister of Ports Highways, 141 single and two lane steel bridges will be constructed throughout the country with the financial assistance from UK.

Sri Lanka’s Road Development Authority (RDA) has identified throughout the island around 160 bridges that need to be replaced with new bridges on a priority basis.

Mabey Bridge Limited of UK is presently involved in the Regional Bridge Project implemented by the Road Development Authority with the UK funding.

The company has been operating in Sri Lanka since 2002 and the projects commenced after 2008 include construction of five fly-overs and 136 bridges to be completed shortly, the government said.

The Cabinet has also approved the rehabilitation of 29.21 km extent of the Galigamuwa- Ruwanwella Karawanella B 127 Road at an expense of Rs 2.472 billion under the project of rehabilitation of National Highways with concrete surfacing through domestic contractors.